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844 HISTORY OF THE GRANGE MOVEMENT; OR, 



and after considerable hesitation, he said he was very 

 sorry; that Farmer Green should have made allowance 

 for all these risks, in making the purchase. However, 

 the mischief was done, and there was nothing but to 

 accept the situation. If the farmer could not pay, he 

 supposed the time would have to be extended, but it 

 would be necessary to charge him a fair rate of interest. 

 Farmer Green said that that was only just. He had 

 done his best to meet the note, but failing to do so, he 

 was willing to pay for his failure. What, he inquired, 

 would be a fair rate of interest ? 



" Twenty per cent, per annum," replied the agent, 

 gravely. 



Farmer Green's heart sank, and he said in a despair- 

 ing tone, that the rate was too high. 



" For ordinary interest, perhaps," replied the agent ; 

 " but, you see, we assume a serious risk in this case. I'd 

 rather have the money down than one hundred per 

 cent, interest. But you havn't got it. We take the 

 risk of your failing entirely to pay us, and it is only fair 

 that we should be paid for this risk as well as for the 

 delay we are put to." 



There was no help for it, and Farmer Green was 

 obliged to pay the extortionate demand. He had placed 

 himself at the mercy of the Reaper Company, and he 

 must do their bidding. He hoped that a succession of 

 good crops would enable him to pay the interest and 

 take up the note ; but, alas for him, this hope was des- 

 tined to disappointment also. He paid the interest once 

 or twice, but the burden was too heavy for him, and at 

 last, in sheer despair, he mortgaged the farm, paid the 

 note, and got rid of the Eeaper Company. But he 

 had only shifted his burdens. The mortgage proved as 



